VEEM Wins First Australian Supplier Orders for Virginia Class Submarine Program

13 November 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

VEEM has received two purchase orders from HII's Newport News Shipbuilding for cast parts for the US Navy's Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarine program. They are the first orders placed with an Australian supplier through the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program for the Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarine program. Minister for Defense Industry the Hon Pat Conroy MP announced the orders at VEEM's Canning Vale facility on November 11, joined by Western Australian Minister for Energy and Decarbonization; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA and H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown AM.

Australian manufacturer VEEM has secured two purchase orders from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding . (Image credit: VEEM)

The orders have a combined value of approximately A$0.8 million and follow more than 12 months of qualification and audit to meet the requirements of the US submarine supply chain. AUSSQ is managed by H&B Defence, a joint venture between HII and Babcock, on behalf of HII Australia and the Australian Submarine Agency. It gives Australian businesses a direct pathway into the US and UK submarine supply chains. The cast parts will be produced in VEEM’s Canning Vale foundry, Australia’s largest non-ferrous foundry, which the Ministers toured during the visit, watching a live pour.

H&B Defence Managing Director Tim Brown AM said: “VEEM has demonstrated the strength of Australia’s manufacturing industry and led the way for other businesses across Australia to qualify and compete to supply into the US and UK submarine industrial bases.”

VEEM Chairman Brad Miocevich said: “Securing these orders from HII to support the US Navy’s Virginia Class submarine program is a significant milestone for VEEM and demonstrates the role Australian manufacturers can play in this highly specialized defense supply chain. I see this as an important step towards our longer-term ambition of supplying AUKUS submarines built here in Australia.”

In a joint media release, Minister Sanderson said: “I’m proud to see WA operator VEEM become one of the first Australian businesses to manufacture components for the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines.”